The Jefferson Cup is a youth soccer tournament held annually since 1981 in Richmond, Virginia. hosted by the Richmond Strikers soccer club. The girls side is the No. 1 ranked youth soccer tournament in the United States, according to GotSoccer.com, while the boys side ranks 31st.[1]
About 800 boys and girls teams are typically accepted to attend the Jefferson Cup, and some 500 teams are declined admission to the tournament every year.[2] Age groups run from Under 11 to Under 18. In 2014, 461 girls teams were accepted, as well as 401 boys teams.
Beginning in 2015, it was played over a span of three weekends in March, rather than two weekends as in years past.[2] It includes one boys weekend, two girls weekends, and a goalkeeper showcase.
Beginning in 2016, the Jefferson Cup will add a second showcase weekend for boys (Under 15 to Under 17) over Memorial Day Weekend.
A 2013 study showed that the event has an economic impact of $15 million annually on the local economy of greater Richmond, including drawing more than 22,000 hotel room nights to the area.[3]